Sustainable Forest Management

Mature primary forests contains ecosystems which helps to maintain healthy, stable soils, provide natural habitats for forest biodiversity and provide a more stable store of carbon. These forests require less inputs to maintain standing biomass and soil carbon content thus playing a unique role in mitigating climate change. Global deforestation accounts for nearly 25% of the annual emission of greenhouse gases. Wide-scale deforestation is accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss and species extinctions.

Besides, forest provide water catchment service vital to the livelihood of the inhabitants. Flowing through the mountains of Southwest China and the Tibetan Plateau are some of the major rivers in Asia, providing more than 45% of the world’s population with fresh water. Loss of natural vegetation and wetlands will greatly endanger the fate of these rivers, their biological habitats, and the livelihood of their dependants.

In view of the much treasured and unique services provided by forests, and the alarmingly increasing rate of disappearance of our primary forests, at the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in 2005, it was agreed that capacity-building, technical assistance and financial support to facilitate actions by developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation are urgent needs.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the conservation and restoration of forests not only reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a low cost; support habitat restoration critical for the prevention of species extinctions, but also provide potential co-benefits for adaptation and sustainable development in forest economy of the developing countries.

At the Rio Conventions held in 1992: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), all acknowledge the important contribution of forests to the achievement of their respective goals and objectives and are working together to enhance synergies in this area.

The Joint Liaison Group (JLG) between the secretariats of the CBD, the UNCCD and the UNFCCC was established to enhance cooperation related to climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and desertification. All three are also on the Collaborative Partnership on Forests ( CPF ) which sees to the long-term global political commitments in sustainable forest management and forest conservation.

The Pan-European Criteria for Sustainable Forest Management in 1998, adopted a set of forestry criteria on forest sustainability, which apply to all forest types in Europe. These criteria are:

Maintenance and enhancement of forest resources and their contribution to global carbon cycles,

Maintenance of forest ecosystem, health and vitality,

Maintenance and encouragement of the productive functions of forests (wood and non-wood),

Maintenance, conservation and enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems,

Maintenance and enhancement of protective functions in forest management of soil and water,

Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

Sustainable Forest Management on a great part, involves forest restorations through afforestation, reforestation and agroforestry which in turn will improve income streams from agriculture, protect biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, improve water and nutrient retention, soil quality, air quality, visibility range, health standards, etc.

Afforestation is the restoration of forest on land that was formerly not a forest. Choice of tree types pines, eucalypts or wattles, depends on the intended function of afforestation.
Picture shows the Green Wall of China afforestation project by the Chinese government to roll back desertification in Xinjiang, aiming to prevent further expansion of the Gurbantunggut and Taklimakan deserts to protect Beijing
from dust and pollution. The 5,700 km project cost € 6 billion.

(Pic: Tree by Tree China Rolls Back Deserts: Capetown.china-consulate.org )

Afforestation is the primary factor increasing forest cover in China. Cumulative areas of afforestation in China from 1949 to 2003 were 241 million ha, of which 90 million ha were eventually established as plantation forests, i.e., about 37% of the afforested area reach forest status.

Reforestation is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted, with native tree stock.

Several European country Parties have participated and reported the various afforestation and reforestation activities they are undertaking at national level, such as Albania in 2000, Cyprus in 2000, Greece in 2002, Italy in 2006, Republic of Moldova in 2006, Turkey in 2006.

In practice, however, the terms afforestation and reforestation are often used interchangeably, resulting in considerable confusion as to the precise nature of a tree-planting activity. This is particularly the case of concern in areas where natural forest is being harvested commercially followed by selective replanting with one or a few (but not all) of the species originally present in the forest.

Only for the true restoration of a natural forest

Forest management must take good consideration of the conservation of natural habitats to avoid imposing negative environmental impacts. It must consciously establish whether the particular tree planting activity is for commercial purposes (establishment of a plantation) or the true restoration of a natural forest for non-commercial purposes. Inability to identify clearly the motives behind afforestation has often nullify the true incentive behind forest management. Habitats most severely affected by afforestation include wetlands, grassland, catchment and indigenous forests.

Agroforestry which incorporate the planting of trees with crops is gaining popularity in tropical forest management. It is recognized as a means to improve soil condition in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.

These areas have previously been under stress of severe soil degradation and watershed depletion due to tree clearing, cropping and overgrazing.
( Photo origin: Agroforesteria.cl )

With agroforestry it is possible to produce foods for man (meat, fruits, cereals or other vegetables, among others), forage for livestock, products for sale derived from crops and/or cattle from forest. Appropriate choice of tree species enrich the soil, prevent erosion, retain water, and shield crops from damaging wind and excessive sunlight.
(Pic: planting of chili within forest lands to generate income for people who might otherwise turn illegal loggers)

The concept of sustainable forest management implies the stewardship and use of forests to provide a range of benefits over time. International agreements and national policies require compliance and adaptation modifications from countries in their forestry practices. The increasing emphasis upon sustainability has led to the promotion of ‘multiple-use’ management which generally means developing new forests containing stands of different species, ages and structures.

The new forests that have been created while provide opportunity for developing modern wood processing industries, also help sustain a diversified and vibrant rural economy. In many cases, the supply of wood and wood products from afforested areas has prevented the over-exploitation and destruction of indigenous forests.

In basic financial terms, as long as economic returns of letting forests stand idle are less than that of 'using the forest', deforestation is bound to occur.

References and related news:

Science.jrank.org: Soil Conservation
Forestry Research into Sustainable Research Management: Forestry.gov.uk
Botany.uwc.ac.za: Afforestation
In Poznan, France Pushes Initiative to Save Rainforests: Forests.org
Climate Change, Biodiversity and Land Degradation: UNCCD.int